TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Organization

Arrangement

Restrictions

Related Material

Administrative Information

Series A: Correspondence. 1914-1989.

Series B: Writings. 1934-1988.

Series C: Subject/Research Files. 1935-1989.

Series D: Personal and Miscellaneous. 1904-1988.

A Finding Aid to the

Louis Harap Papers

Manuscript Collection No. 683

1904-1989

Biographical Sketch

Louis Harap was born in New York City in 1904. He graduated from the Ethical Culture High School in 1922. Following three years at Antioch College in an experimental work-study program, Harap transferred to Harvard University. Harap graduated in 1928 with a concentration in sociology and economics. Harap later received a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Harvard in 1932.

Harap's first position was as a librarian at the Widener Library at Harvard University from 1934-1939. Following his return from the war, Harap acted as librarian from 1960-1969 for the experimental New Lincoln School in New York City. However, Harap's true interest was in his research and scholarly pursuits. Following his retirement in 1969, Harap and his wife moved to Vermont where he chose again to write and edit full-time.

In 1939, Harap resigned from his first librarian position to move to New York City and edit a new monthly magazine called Jewish Survey which studied the situation of the Jewish people, primarily in the United States. He remained as editor of this magazine until his induction into the Army in August 1942. Harap served over two years in England, Germany and other parts of Europe as both a correspondent and in the intelligence section of the Psychological Warfare branch. He was present at liberated concentration camps during the summer of 1945. In August 1945, Harap was discharged from the service.

From 1948-1957, Harap was the managing editor of Jewish Life magazine- a monthly socialist journal. In 1957, the magazine was renamed Jewish Currents and Harap resigned as managing editor, although he was to remain on the editorial board until his death. Harap wrote a diverse monthly column which ranged from book reviews to political commentary. He also edited articles and designed layouts. As editor of the magazine, Harap was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1955.

Harap also published several books including: Social Roots of the Arts (1949), Image of the Jew in American Literature, from Early Republic to Mass Immigration (1974); and In the Mainstream: Jewish Presence in 20th Century Literature (1985). His varied articles were published in journals such as American Jewish Archives, Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Review, Musical Quarterly, The Nation, Science and Society, Journal of Ethnic Studies and American Jewish Quarterly.

Louis Harap married Evelyn Mann in 1957 and they had no children. Harap died in May 1998 in Vermont.

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Scope and Content Note

The Louis Harap Papers (1904-1989) detail the scholarly career and personal life of Louis Harap. A librarian, philosopher and scholar, Louis Harap wrote The Image of the Jew in American Literature . During World War II, Harap served in the U.S. Army. Harap was an editor and writer for several magazines on Judaism, literature and Marxism. In fact, Harap testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1955 because of his Marxist beliefs. The papers include correspondence, research files, writings and personal materials.

Harap had extremely diverse scholarly interests as exemplified in his writings. The writings series contains manuscripts and associated files. Background research files are also found in the research and subject files. Early in his career, Harap's writings centered either around philosophy in articles like "The Paradox of Ethical Naturalism" or musicology in articles entitled "The Case for Hot Jazz." After attempting unsuccessfully to convert his Ph.D. thesis on philosophy and poetry to a publishable book, Harap turned his attention to social issues such as the relationship of Jews and blacks (see "Anti-Negroism among Jews." 1942) In 1939, he moved to New York City to serve as editor of a magazine entitled Jewish Survey, which exposed the conditions of Jewry around the world. The collection contains a run of this magazine, but very few associated files.

Jewish Survey was the first magazine of Harap's literary career. Jewish Life/ Jewish Currents in the post-war period was to become a lifetime passion. After several years as managing editor, Harap retired to become an editorial board member and columnist. Because he lived in Vermont much of the submission analysis and editing was done via correspondence with Morris Schappes. Copies of his articles are located in the writings series together with a bibliography of his article titles published in the two magazines. Harap also wrote reviews for Science and Society while publishing in numerous other magazines.

From 1943-1945, Harap served in the Psychological Warfare Branch of the United States Army. During this time he kept up a correspondence with friends and relatives in the United States such as Stanley Hyman, Shirley Jackson and Virginia Rosen. He also corresponded with fellow soldier Henry Harap and medic Milton Brown. This grouping of correspondence makes frequent references to the New York literary scene and life on the American homefront. There are also reports on Buchenwald and German propaganda collected by Harap while in Germany that are in the personal series.

Following his army discharge, Harap focused his energies on writing about Marxist theory and history. In 1955 he spoke before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Harap testified that Jews were treated more fairly in the Soviet Union then they were in the United States, drawing a firestorm of criticism from Jewish leaders as well as anti-Semites. His testimony and related clippings can be found in the personal series. A number of writings and files on Marxism, particularly in relation to the Soviet Union and to the arts, can be found throughout the collection.

Harap also had a strong research interest in the portrayal of the Jew in American literature and in the work of Edgar Allen Poe. Both are strongly represented in the collection. There is one folder of material relating to Harap's tenure at the experimental New Lincoln School in New York City.

The span dates for the papers are 1904-1989.

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Arrangement

See description of individual series.

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Restrictions

Access Information

The Louis Harap Papers are open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives.

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Related Material

Cohen, Oscar. MSS. Collection No. 294.

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Administrative Information

Citations

Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Louis Harap Papers and the American Jewish Archives.

Provenance

The Louis Harap Papers were donated by Louis Harap, Rutland, Vermont, in September 1989.

Processing Information

Processed by Melinda McMartin, June, 2002.

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Box and Folder Listing

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